CONTINUING its efforts to promote the emirate’s tourism offering, the Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority (SCTDA) has announced new strategies and promotional plans for the second half of 2010.
SCTDA chairman, Sheikh Sultan Bin Ahmed Al Qassimi, underlined the importance of stepping up efforts to improve performance, as well as putting in place new initiatives to promote Sharjah as a unique tourism, heritage, cultural and family destination in the region.
At a recent board meeting, SCTDA directors commended the launch of Sharjah Lights Festival, hailing its theme. The festival, the first of its kind in the Middle East, is scheduled to take place during the first quarter of 2011 and will be organised by the SCTDA.
“2010 has seen a noticeable increase in the SCTDA’s activities targeting the local, regional and international markets in order to cope with the growing demands of Sharjah’s tourism market and provide the best offerings,” said Sheikh Sultan.
According to SCTDA statistics, there was a slight growth in the tourism sector with a 70 per cent hotel occupancy rate reported in the first five months of this year compared to the 67 per cent in the corresponding period of 2009. The total number of room nights in the emirate’s hotels and hotel apartments reached 637,390, a seven per cent increase on last year.
Commenting on these figures, Mohamed Al Noman, SCTDA director general said: “The SCTDA is focusing on a clear strategy based on targeting leading markets that are important for parties concerned with the tourism industry as well as on organising activities and events that would contribute directly to the promotion of tourism by taking part in the world’s largest tourism and trade exhibitions and organising promotional tours all over the world.”
The SCTDA had a strong presence at a number of international trade fairs during the first five months of 2010 − including its biggest and most distinct participation yet at the International Tourism Bourse Berlin, where it won the best Arab world exhibitor, and Leisure Moscow 2010 held last month − in addition to participating in major events such as the prestigious Sharjah Heritage Days.